Last week, all of our Year 8 pupils visited the Northern Rail Heaton Depot. Over two days, students got a real insight into what goes on behind the scenes to keep the trains running smoothly.
They explored different areas of the depot, saw the trains up close, and some even sat in the driver’s seat. Staff at the depot explained the range of careers available, from engineering and cleaning to driving and management roles.
Miss Nelson, our Careers Lead, who accompanied the visits, said:
“We wanted to extend a very big thank you to everyone involved at Heaton Depot. Garry, Ricky and Ian were fantastic with our students, answering all kinds of questions in a way they could understand. Since returning, I’ve overheard pupils talking so positively about their experience and how much they enjoyed it.”
Visits like this are important for our pupils. At Benfield School, careers and personal development are at the heart of everything we do. We want to raise aspirations, open eyes to new possibilities, and help our students see what is on their doorstep.
The visit linked closely to the Gatsby Benchmarks, particularly:
- Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
- Benchmark 5: Encounters with employers and employees
- Benchmark 6: Experiences of workplaces
These benchmarks are part of our commitment to giving every pupil the best start in their future careers.
Thank you again to Northern Rail and all staff at Heaton Depot for supporting our pupils’ learning and career journeys.